American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

After a return to action I was offered a game using a penninsula campaign scenario "Bottoms bridge and WO swamp" Well after 24 turns I surreneder due to the alomost silly defensive fire untis are throwing out. I lost 7000 men trying to approach the union positions. There was no safe avenue to come forward and artillery units are firing multiple time along with infantry. How are you supposed to attack when your units are losing 10-20% strength and getting disrupted before they can even fire back? Is it just me. I can tell you that I wont be playing that scenario at least as the rebels, total slaughter[:(]

Retired Lt Gen AoM

Never interrupt the enemy when he is doing something wrong.

I rarely - if ever - find the HPS engine favouring the defender in the way you describe, although historically the attacker ought to be prepared to accept significant losses, especially when assaulting a position defended by artillery.

Col. Rich White
3 Brig. Phantom Cav Div
III Corps ANV

I am with Rich. The HPS games favor the attacker <u>badly</u> and this is very unhistorical. If you found a game and scenario that favors the defender, wow, a miracle, but a most welcome one.

Gen. Walter, USA
AoS / War College

HPS and Battleground games generally favor the attacker in that it only requires a slight advantage in numbers for an attacker to take a position. That said, individual scenarios may dramaticly change the chance of winning due to position, length or VP hexes. Also, artillery is so powerful in Battleground that a position that allows the defender to use his artillery effectively can break an attack by superior force. Antietam being a good example or Picket's charge.

BG. Kennon Whitehead
Chatham Grays
III Corps, AoM (CSA)

I think your opponent is just a genius.

Fld. Lt. Brad Slepetz
4th "Hell's Rifles" Brigade
1st Division
III Corps
AoG

Sure wonder what significant equats to, would 7000 casualties befor noon apply[:D] Worst slaughter I have seen in one of these before


Retired Lt Gen AoM

Never interrupt the enemy when he is doing something wrong.

From my experience if a position is unassailable then it is. The difference would be in opponent experience. I think that this skews the scenario balance enormously. Between 2 equal players the defender has the advantage. If you add in experience and maneuver into the equation you can alter the initial scenario balance. That being said, scenarios, with their limited scope can negate experience levels to a point.

Attack is more difficult, however you can demoralize an enemy on the offensive, and between different 'quality' opponents this will make the difference between victory and defeat. I think that we sometimes forget that we are playing against a human opponent with all the frailties and anxieties they have. If you can work on them then you may achieve a morale victory over you opponent. I have won battles were an opponent gave up before I was going to give up. This is the essence of these games. It’s not what you have physically on the battlefield it is the difference between the experiences level of the opponents and how you use what you have.

Sound strategic play that follows the rules of war will bode you well. Were many players fail is in the strategic play! They defend an area while the opponent maneuvers a superior force on a section of his line and overwhelms it. This seems like an obvious move and should be detected but is often ignored by an opponent.

Another valuable factor in an experienced player arsenal is the ability to adapt to a situation which means a new level of play is needed to gain a victory.

For those that are hesitant about playing experienced players you should welcome the chance. You will gain an enormous amount of insight and experience. You learn by playing a great player and very little by beating a weaker player, leave your egos aside, lose a few battles and learn and one day you will be able to beat your master. That is the learning experience. Think about it. How many times did it take you to beat the AI. It only made you better but then you are only as good as your weakest opponent.


Best Regards,

General Pierre D.
CSA Reserve Corps
President, ACWGC